Mike Macdonald
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Meet Mike Macdonald, born June 26, 1987. He's the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and his journey to the NFL's helm is a story of dedication and strategic brilliance. Before taking the reins in Seattle, Macdonald made a significant impact as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2022 to 2023, where he transformed their defense into one of the league's stingiest units.
His coaching career began at the University of Georgia in 2010 as a graduate assistant, a stepping stone to further roles with the Ravens and the University of Michigan.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Macdonald's early life saw him in Roswell, Georgia, where he attended Centennial High School. Though injuries limited his senior year in football and baseball, his academic pursuits led him to the University of Georgia. There, he excelled in finance at the Terry College of Business, graduating summa cum laude in 2010, while also contributing his coaching skills to Cedar Shoals High School.
Macdonald’s coaching path truly solidified at Georgia, joining Mark Richt's staff in 2010 as a graduate assistant. He then moved into safeties and defensive quality control roles, earning a master's degree in sport management in 2013.
His seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, from 2014 to 2020, saw him rise through the ranks. Starting as an intern, he progressed to defensive assistant, defensive backs coach, and eventually linebackers coach, honing his defensive acumen under John Harbaugh.
In 2021, Macdonald brought his talents to the University of Michigan, serving as defensive coordinator for Jim Harbaugh. In his sole season, the Wolverines boasted a top-10 national defense, secured the Big Ten Conference Championship, and reached the College Football Playoff, finishing the season ranked #3 nationally.
His return to the Baltimore Ravens as defensive coordinator in 2022 was met with immediate success. He orchestrated a defense that allowed a mere 315 points in 17 games, averaging under 19 points per game, ranking fourth in the league. In 2023, his unit improved further, allowing the fewest points in the NFL and advancing to the AFC Championship. Even in defeat against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Ravens' defense held the Chiefs to just 17 points, extending a remarkable streak of holding opponents to 20 points or less.
On January 31, 2024, Mike Macdonald was named the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, succeeding Pete Carroll. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest head coach in the NFL, chosen over a competitive field of candidates.
His inaugural season with Seattle began with a promising three-game winning streak, a first for the team since 2020. Despite a subsequent three-game skid, Macdonald rallied his Seahawks to a 5-5 record by Week 10, highlighted by a crucial victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He concluded his first season by leading the Seahawks to a 10-7 record, achieving his tenth win in the season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. This milestone made him the first head coach in franchise history to reach ten wins in his inaugural season, though the team narrowly missed the postseason.
Off the field, Mike Macdonald has been married to his wife, Stephanie, since 2021. In a joyous personal milestone, they welcomed their son, Jack, on December 3, 2024.
Michael Macdonald (born June 26, 1987) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2022 to 2023.
Macdonald attended the University of Georgia, where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2010. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens and at the University of Michigan.
== Early life ==
Macdonald was born on June 26, 1987, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia. He played baseball and football at Centennial but saw limited action as a senior due to injuries.
He next attended the University of Georgia where he studied finance at the Terry College of Business and graduated summa cum laude in 2010. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and, while still a student at Georgia, he also coached high school football at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia.
== Coaching career ==
=== Georgia ===
In May 2010, Macdonald joined Mark Richt's coaching staff as a graduate assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs football program. He also served as a safeties and defensive quality control coach at Georgia from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, while coaching at Georgia, he earned a master's degree in sport management.
=== Baltimore Ravens ===
Macdonald served on John Harbaugh's coaching staff with the Baltimore Ravens for seven seasons from 2014 to 2020. He was hired as an intern in 2014 and was promoted to defensive assistant in January 2015, defensive backs coach in January 2017, and linebackers coach in January 2018.
=== Michigan ===
In January 2021, Macdonald joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan, as the defensive coordinator of the Michigan Wolverines football program. In Macdonald's only season at the University of Michigan, the Wolverines posted a top 10 national defense, won the Big Ten Conference Championship, and played in the College Football Playoff. The team finished with a national ranking of #3.
=== Baltimore Ravens (second stint) ===
On January 27, 2022, Macdonald was re-hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive coordinator under head coach John Harbaugh, replacing Don Martindale. In 2022, Macdonald led the Ravens' defense to only allowing 315 points in 17 games. Averaging just under 19 points per game, the Ravens' defense was ranked the fourth best defense in the league. In 2023, the Ravens' defensive unit improved under Macdonald as they only allowed 280 points in total on the season, the fewest in the NFL. The Ravens would advance to the AFC Championship this season and despite losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens would hold the Chiefs to just 17 points, marking the team's sixth consecutive game where they held an opponent to 20 points or less.
=== Seattle Seahawks ===
On January 31, 2024, Mike Macdonald was hired by the Seattle Seahawks as their head coach to replace Pete Carroll. He beat out Ejiro Evero, Patrick Graham, Ben Johnson, Mike Kafka, Raheem Morris, Dan Quinn, Bobby Slowik, and Frank Smith for the job. At the time of his hiring, Mike Macdonald was the youngest head coach in the NFL.
Macdonald began his inaugural season with Seattle by leading the team to three straight victories for the first time since 2020. The team followed this start by going on a three game losing streak. By the Seahawks' Week 10 bye, the team held a record of 4–5, falling to last place in the NFC West. The team improved to 5–5 in Week 11 when Macdonald's Seahawks defeated the reigning NFC champions and division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 20–17. In Week 18, he led the team to a 30–25 victory against the division rival Los Angeles Rams on route to his 10th coaching win in his first season, becoming the first head coach in franchise history to reach 10 wins in his inaugural season. The Seahawks finished with a 10–7 record but missed the postseason in Macdonald's first season as head coach.
== Head coaching record ==
== Personal life ==
Macdonald and his wife Stephanie have been married since 2021.
On December 3, 2024, Macdonald and his wife, Stephanie, became first-time parents with the arrival of their son, Jack.
== References ==
== External links ==
Seattle Seahawks profile
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